Max Clark’s enjoying life at Gillingham again after working hard to get another chance to shine.
The 29-year-old left-sided defender needed to be patient to get an opportunity to play under manager John Coleman and has now become a regular starter.
Clark was always willing to put the effort in and that’s now paying off. He scored Gillingham’s equaliser on Saturday at Accrington after nailing down a place in Coleman’s team.
“I’m really happy at the minute,” he said. “Just playing games and enjoying being out there.
“It was difficult when he (Coleman) came in, I’ll be honest. It was hard because he didn’t fancy me and that’s the way football is. Some managers fancy you and some don’t.
“I didn’t let my head drop. I just grafted and made sure I was ready when a chance came. I always believe in that and that’s what I’ve done all throughout my career.
“I’ve had challenges where I needed to try and be better and I set myself targets.
“When the gaffer came in and I was out of the squad, to make sure that I could get back in I just did everything to get myself ready. It happened last year as well.
“I never let my head drop and just worked my way in. I knew one day it would pay off. Luckily, I’m getting a run in the team and enjoying playing for the club.
“I think it’s a great club, Gillingham. I’m enjoying it.”
Clark joined the Gills from Stevenage after their promotion to League 1 but a month later Scott Malone also arrived and it was the former Millwall man who took the left-back starting role under Neil Harris. He kept working hard and under Stephen Clemence was a regular starter for the final few months of the season.
Clark remained a first-XI pick for Mark Bonner but was dropped to the bench when Coleman took charge, making only one substitute appearance in the new manager’s first five games.
Coleman made big changes after the 3-0 loss at Barrow in early February and Clark got a chance in the starting XI. He’s been there ever since.
He’s grown in stature under Coleman, noticeably more vocal and influential, and making headline with an equalising goal at Accrington last Saturday.
Coleman was keen for Clark to get involved in the scoring too and he got a crucial goal on Saturday, scoring a stoppage-time equaliser after a clever free-kick move.
He said: “We had plenty of set-pieces in the second half, in and around the box, and a few weren’t working so we tried something different.
“Max Ehmer kind of set it up. He made a block and [Armani] Little was clever enough to find me I just hit it and hoped for the best. It was nice to get the goal and get us back in the game.
“It was important because I thought second half we were in their half a lot. It was nice to get the goal. It was off the cuff.
“We had a few chances where we were just trying to hit the goal off the set-pieces and they weren’t working. We tried something different and, luckily, it came off.
“When you’re that close you just have to hit it as hard as you can and make sure it’s on target and that’s what I did.
“I want to add more goals to my game. The gaffer spoke to me about it before the game and said: ‘You’re going to score a goal today’.
“I’m happy but I’d have been happier if we’d got the three points. We’ll take the point and we’ll move on to Saturday at home and we’ll make sure that we go for three points.That’s the main focus now.”
